RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Analysis of the efficacy of pediatric day surgery
JF Canadian Journal of Surgery
JO CAN J SURG
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 193
OP 198
VO 44
IS 3
A1 Mervyn Letts
A1 Darin Davidson
A1 William Splinter
A1 Patricia Conway
YR 2001
UL http://canjsurg.ca/content/44/3/193.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of a pediatric day surgery program and its benefits to the child and family.Design: A review and analysis of prospectively gathered data.Setting: The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), a university-affiliated pediatric centre with a referral base of 2.5 million people.Patients: All children undergoing day surgery at CHEO during the 5 years between 1992 and 1997.Interventions: All surgical procedures performed on a day surgery basis.Main outcome measures: Procedures performed, complications and unexpected admissions.Results: An average of 4899 children per year underwent surgical procedures in the ambulatory day surgery program. The 4 commonest procedures performed were myringotomy, tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, dental procedures, and inguinal hernia repair. The majority of children were between 2 and 7 years of age. Complications were few, averaging 1.6% per year, with postoperative bleeding, primarily secondary to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, being the most common. None resulted in permanent disability and there were no deaths.Conclusions: Pediatric day surgery is a safe and cost-effective program that benefits the child, the family and the pediatric surgical program.